Packaging system for at least one electrical service device

ABSTRACT

A packaging system for at least one electrical service device is described, which has a transparent packaging configuration. At least one service device is accommodated in the transparent packaging configuration. The transparent packaging configuration has a container. The container has two side walls that accommodate the service device between them. As viewed from the outside, one of the side walls has a depression and the other of the side walls has a protuberance. When a plurality of containers are aligned in a row, one beside another, the protuberance ( 21 ) of the first container engages in the depression ( 20 ) of the adjacent container, so that the two containers are connected to each other frictionally or with a form locking connection, releasably.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a packaging system for at least one electrical service device, in particular for a circuit breaker, fault-current circuit breaker and the like, having a transparent packaging arrangement in which the at least one service device is accommodated.

[0003] Circuit breakers or fault-current circuit breakers are frequently packaged in multipack cartons, that is to say in collective packs. During order picking, in order to assemble individual devices as desired by the customer, the multipack cartons are opened and the assembled individual devices are packaged again. The other service devices in the corresponding multipack carton are to some extent stored unpackaged.

[0004] In particular, when the service devices are stored unpackaged, the necessary protection against contamination and damage is no longer ensured. Furthermore, the procedure indicated above—opening the multipack carton, assembling the individual devices and repacking—is time-consuming and costly. In addition, the identification of the repacked devices is no longer provided, since the pack label is stuck only to the original multipack carton.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a packaging system for at least one electrical service device that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and, in which, the assembly of service devices for individual customers is simplified.

[0006] With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a packaging system for an electrical service device including a transparent packaging configuration. The transparent packaging configuration can accommodate the electrical service device and has a container made of clearly transparent, stiff and flexible material for holding the service device. The container has two side walls. Each of the side walls has a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge and defining a region of the side wall, and a first depression formed therein. The first depressions are matched to the electrical service device and each is protruding outward. The first edges flexibly connect the side walls to each other. The side walls rest directly on each other in the region of the second edges. One of the side walls has an embossed pip in the region of the second edge; the other of the side walls has a second depression in the region of the second edge. The side walls are releasably connected to each other by the embossed pip and the second depression.

[0007] According to the invention, the transparent packaging configuration includes at least one container made of clearly transparent, stiff and flexible material, into which a service device is inserted. Within the context of the invention, “clearly transparent” means completely transparent and uncolored. The container is formed from two side walls, which have first depressions that are matched to (i.e. complement) the service device, so that the service devices are accommodated between the side walls. The side walls are connected flexibly to each other at two edges located beside each other and, in the region of the edges located opposite these, the side walls rest directly on each other and are releasably connected to each other there by embossed second protuberances and second depressions.

[0008] The side walls are particularly advantageously connected to each other flexibly at the edges which lie on the fixing side of the service device and, in the region of the edges that belong to the front side, lie directly on each other, and are releasably connected to each other there by the second protuberances and the second depressions.

[0009] In accordance with a further object of the invention, connectors are provided on both side walls with which at least two containers can be connected to each other.

[0010] The advantage of the invention is that a plurality of containers can be aligned in a row beside one another, so that the containers with the service devices in them can be aligned and separated individually.

[0011] An additional packing operation, in which individual service devices have to be repacked in accordance with the customer's wishes, is no longer required. Furthermore, the service device remains in the original pack from production to use and is therefore protected at every time against contamination and damage. The fact that the material is a transparent material means that each product can be identified without additional information carriers which have to be stuck or affixed to the container, since the specific data applied to the product, such as rating data, company logo, date of manufacture and so on can easily be seen.

[0012] The connector for connecting two containers can be adhesive surfaces. According to a further configuration of the invention, the connector for connecting two containers can be formed as geometric elements and/or recesses introduced into the side walls, which ensure a frictional and/or form-locking connection. A form-locking connection is one that connects two elements together due to the shape of the elements themselves, as opposed to a force-locking connection, which locks the elements together by force external to the elements.

[0013] According to a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, at least one third protuberance can be provided on one side wall and at least one third depression matched to the third protuberance can be provided on the other side wall. The protuberance and depression engage each other when two containers are aligned in a row to form a releasable connection between the containers. For this purpose, it is obvious that the dimensions of the protuberances and of the depressions are matched to one another in such a way that frictional or form-fitting, detachable retention between the two containers is produced.

[0014] The protuberance and the depression can in this case have a profiled circumferential contour with a profiled cross section, for example a rectangular contour with a rectangular or dovetail-shaped cross section. However, there is also the possibility that two or more third protuberances are provided, to which two or more third depressions correspond.

[0015] Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

[0016] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a packaging system for at least one electrical service device, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

[0017] The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a pack or a container according to the invention taken along section line I-I from FIG. 2;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a side view of the pack or container according to the direction of arrow II from FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of the pack or container;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a side view of a third embodiment of the pack or container;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the third embodiment of the pack or container taken according to the direction of arrow V in FIG. 4; and

[0023]FIG. 6 is a plan view of the pack or container in an open, unfolded position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a container 10. Within the container 10, there is an electrical service device 11, which can be a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a fixing side 12 and a front side 13. The container 10 has two side walls 14 and 15, each of which has a respective first depression 16, 17. After the two side walls 14, 15 have been laid together, as illustrated in FIG. 1, an accommodation space 18 for the service device, the circuit breaker here, is formed between the side walls by the depressions 16 and 17. The two side walls 14 and 15 are connected to each other in the region of the fixing side of the circuit breaker by using an integrally molded hinge joint 19.

[0025] The side wall 14 has a second depression 20 embossed from the outside toward the inside, whereas the side wall 15 has a second depression 21 embossed from the inside toward the outside; as can be seen from FIG. 2, the two depressions are rectangular in their contour; the depression 20 can be seen in FIG. 2. If two containers 10 are disposed beside each other, then the depression 21—which could also be called a protuberance—engages in the depression 20. Moreover, because of the dimensions of the outer circumferential contour of the protuberance 21 and the inner circumferential contour of the depression 20 are complementary, a second container can be fitted to the container according to FIG. 1. The protuberance on the second container engages the depression 20 in the container according to FIG. 1. The connection is frictional. In addition, the two containers are protected against rotation on account of the profiled shape of the depression 20 and of the protuberance 21.

[0026] It should also be added that a depression 22 projecting outward is integrally molded on the side wall 14, whereas a protuberance 23 protruding in the direction of the side wall 14 is integrally molded on the side wall 15. The fact that the protuberance 23 engages in the depression 22 means that the two side walls 14 and 15 are connected to each other frictionally.

[0027]FIG. 2 shows that two protuberances and depressions 22/23 are provided, in order that the two side walls 14, 15 are held closed and held together symmetrically, of course, even more than 2, for example 3, 4, or 5, such protuberances and depressions 22/23 could be provided.

[0028] Here, the shape of these protuberances and depressions can be chosen over a wide range. In the simplest configuration, they can be cylindrical pips and depressions. However, triangular, quadrangular or multi-angled pips and depressions would also be possible. Likewise, for a further configuration, it is conceivable for pips and depressions to have different shapes, for example round pips and quadrangular depressions. However, in all the conceivable different embodiments, it is imperative that the outer circumferential contour of the pips and the inner circumferential contour of the depressions are matched to one another in such a way that a frictional or form-fitting releasable connection results between the two side walls 14 and 15.

[0029] As a variant for the shaping of a generic packaging system, FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a container, which is suitable to connect at least two containers lined up in a row beside one another. Instead of a rectangular third depression 21 and a rectangular third protuberance 20, cylindrical third depressions and third protuberances are provided, having the reference numbers 30, 31, and 32 in FIG. 3. The third protuberances and third depressions 30/30 a and 31/31 a are in the region of the access openings to connecting terminals of the circuit breaker, whereas the third protuberances and third depressions 32/32 a lie in the region of the recess 33 on the fixing side of the circuit breaker. In this case, the third protuberances 30 and 31 engage to some extent in the lateral recesses 38 on the front or access side of the circuit breaker 11, and the third protuberance 32 engages to some extent in the recess 33 on the fixing side of the circuit breaker. The fixing of the two side walls to each other is carried out in the same way as in the embodiment according to FIG. 1.

[0030] If a second container is to be fitted to the container according to FIG. 3, then the protuberances of one container engage in the corresponding depressions on the side wall of the other container. Because of the dimensions, the inner diameter of the depression and the outer diameter of the protuberance, there is a frictional connection between the two containers.

[0031] In both cases, the two containers—if appropriate even more containers—can be lined up in a row beside one another; owing to the protuberances 21 or 30 a, 31 a and 32 a and the depression 20 or 30, 31 and 32 the two containers remain connected to each other beside each other.

[0032] It should be added that the depressions and protuberances 30, 31 and 32 can be disposed in an equilateral triangle on the container 34.

[0033]FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a container, which is suitable to connect at least two containers aligned in a row beside one another. Instead of the cylindrical third protuberances 30, 31, and 32 and cylindrical third depressions 30 a, 31 a, and 32 a, the third protuberances 35, 36, and 37 and the third depressions 35 a, 36 a, and 37 a matched to them are configured as dovetail-like protuberances and recesses. The third protuberances and third depressions 35/35 a and 36/36 a are again made in the region of the access openings to connecting terminals of the circuit breaker. The third protuberances 35 and 36 engage to some extent in the lateral recesses 38 on the front or access side of the circuit breaker 11. The third protuberance and the third depression 37/37 a rest on the fixing side of the circuit breaker in the region of the recess 33, and in this case, the third protuberance 37 engages to some extent in the recess 33. In order that—as described below—the third protuberances 35, 36, and 37 can slide into the third depressions 35 a, 36 a, and 37 a when two containers are pushed together. The third depressions 35, 36, and 37 must be introduced into the upper and lower edge of the first depressions 16 and 17 of the side walls 14 and 15 in such a way that the lower opening of the third depression 37 and the upper openings of the third depressions 35 and 36 open flush in the upper and lower edge, respectively, of the first depressions 16 or 17 of the side walls 14 and 15.

[0034] The depression 37 is advantageously dimensioned to be so large that it prevents the circuit breaker slipping sideways in the pack.

[0035]FIG. 5 illustrates the dovetail-shaped configuration of the cross section of the protuberances and depressions 35/35 a, 36/36 a and 37/37 a. If a second container is fitted to the container according to FIG. 4, this can be done by pushing the side wall 14 of one container and the side wall 15 of the other container onto each other in a parallel, sliding manner, in such a way that the protuberances 35 a, 36 a, and 37 a slide into the corresponding depressions 35, 36, and 37 on the opposite side. As a result of the mutually matched inner dimensions of the dovetail-shaped recesses and the outer dimensions of the protuberances, in terms of height, width, depth, and angles, a form-locking, releasable connection is implemented in this way.

[0036] A further possible way to implement a form-fitting and/or frictional, releasable connection between two containers beside each other is formed here by the two containers first being placed parallel and opposite each other and then pressed at right angles to each other. In this case, the protuberances 35 a, 36 a, 37 a are pressed against the corresponding depressions 35, 36, 37, so that the protuberances 35 a, 36 a, 37 a initially give way-elastically, slide into the depressions 35, 36, 37 and snap back elastically again there, so that ultimately a form-locking and/or frictional connection is established.

[0037] In this case, too, the two containers—if appropriate even a plurality of containers—can be lined up in a row beside one another, the containers remaining connected to each other beside one another owing to the protuberances 35 a, 36 a, and 37 a and the depressions 35, 36, and 37.

[0038] In a further embodiment—not shown here in a figure—the protuberances and depressions are formed in such a way that the form-locking connection is produced by the two side walls 14 of one container and 15 of the second container first being placed on one another and then rotated in relation to each other through a specific angle, which can lie between 45 and 180 degrees, for example.

[0039]FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a pack folded open. The two side walls 14 and 15 of the container are connected by the hinge joint 19 that is integrally molded on the side walls. On the upper side, opposite the hinge joint 19, the marginal contour of the side wall 14 has two different radii, a small radius 40 and a larger radius 42. To the right beside the radius 40, the marginal contour of the side wall 14 has a rounded cutout 41 about as thick as a thumb. On its side opposite the hinge joint 19, the marginal contour of the side wall 15 also has two different radii 45 and 43 and also a rounded cutout 44 about as thick as a thumb, but on the opposite side with respect to a mid-axis 50. When the pack is folded together, grip tabs 46, 47, 48, 49 (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4), which make it easy to open the pack, are thus produced on the upper side, facing away from the hinge joint. 

We claim:
 1. A packaging system for an electrical service device, comprising: a transparent packaging configuration for accommodating the electrical service device having a container made of clearly transparent, stiff and flexible material for holding the service device; said container having two side walls, each of said side wall having a first edge, a second edge opposite said first edge and defining a region of said side wall, and a first depression formed therein; said first depressions being matched to the electrical service device and each protruding outward; said first edges flexibly connected said side walls to each other; said side walls resting directly on each other in said region of said second edges; one of said side walls having an embossed pip in said region of said second edge and the other of said side walls having a second depression in said region of said second edge, said side walls being releasably connected to each other by said embossed pip and said second depression.
 2. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical service device is a circuit breaker.
 3. The packaging system according to claim 2, wherein the circuit breaker is a fault-current circuit breaker.
 4. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein: the service device has a fixing side; and said first edges of said side walls lie on the fixing side of the service device.
 5. The packaging system according to claim 1, further comprising: a further container formed by two side walls; and a connector provided on at least one of said side walls of said container for releasably connecting said containers to said further container.
 6. The packaging system according to claim 1, further comprising a connector provided on at least one of said side walls of said container for releasably connecting to a connecter of a further container.
 7. The packaging system according to claim 6, wherein said connector is an adhesive surface.
 8. The packaging system according to claim 6, wherein said connector is selected from the group consisting of a geometric element and a recess formed in said side wall.
 9. The packaging system according to claim 8, further comprising: an at least one-third protuberance projecting outward and disposed on one of said side walls; and an at least one-third depression complementing said one-third protuberance and disposed on the other of said side walls; said one-third protuberance and said one-third depression being aligned in a row to allow interengaging by a releasable connection with the further container, which has a respective at least one-third protuberance and an at least one-third depression, when said container is aligned with the further container in a row.
 10. The packaging system according to claim 9, wherein said one-third protuberance and said one-third depression have a profiled circumferential contour with a likewise profiled cross section.
 11. The packaging system according to claim 10, wherein: said profiled circumferential contour is a rectangular contour; and said likewise profiled cross section is a rectangular cross section.
 12. The packaging system according to claim 10, wherein: said profiled circumferential contour is a rectangular contour; and said likewise profiled cross section is a dovetail-shaped cross section.
 13. The packaging system according to claim 9, wherein: said at least one-third protuberance is an at least two-third protuberance; and said at least one-third depression is an at least two-third depression.
 14. The packaging system according to claim 9, wherein: said at least one-third protuberance is a three-third protuberances; and said at least one-third depression is a three-third depression.
 15. The packaging system according to claim 9, wherein: said at least one-third protuberance has an outer circumferential contour; and said at least one-third depression has an inner circumferential contour; said outer circumferential contour and said inner circumferential contour being dimensioned to create a form-locking connection with each other.
 16. The packaging system according to claim 9, wherein one of said at least one-third protuberance and said at least one-third depression can be latched in the other of an at least one-third protuberance and at least one-third depression of the further container when said container and the further container are pushed onto one another in a parallel and sliding manner along said side wall of said container and the side wall of the further container.
 17. The packaging system according to claim 9, wherein one of said at least one-third protuberance and said at least one-third depression can be latched in the other of an at least one-third protuberance and at least one-third depression of the further container as said container and the further container are rotated mutually along said side wall of said container and the side wall of the further container. 